Burden of Proof

Club Rapture: Risk Aware #2

by Kate Hawthorne

Book Two in Club Risk Aware
Coming soon.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, BDSM

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

About the author

With over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.

Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.

Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com

Reviews

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing the review as I read the book…

Lincoln’s self esteem issues are a problem. I hope he can work through them.

Their meet cute is pretty different. 😆
I think it had to start this way.

Marshall now knowing his brother’s kinks and vice versa was an interesting moment.

Lincoln’s solo shower scene was 🔥🔥🔥

The I love yous were fast but necessary. They both needed it.

Both are insecure but get stronger when they are together. I really liked that.

I enjoyed their chemistry and the way they explored their kink. No everything has to be high protocol.

Some of Lincoln’s low esteem moments made me uncomfortable but it’s who he was. Lincoln’s growth by the end was remarkable.
Hunter and Lincoln were a good balance.
I really enjoyed their book.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lincoln feels abandoned after his best friend finds love, leaving him lonely and adrift. Seeking comfort, he turns to submission for a night, but the encounter stirs deeper emotions than expected and entangles him in complications he can’t escape. His search for help leads him straight into the path of Hunter Covington — Marshall’s younger brother, equally dominant, and impossible to ignore. Hunter initially sees their meeting as a fleeting connection, but Lincoln’s vulnerability and strength captivate him. Determined not to walk away, Hunter convinces Lincoln to give him a chance. Their relationship evolves into a unique power exchange — one where Hunter’s protective instincts and Lincoln’s need for safety intertwine with surprising reciprocity. Yet Lincoln’s fear of abandonment makes him want to run, even as Hunter offers him a home and unconditional care. Their love becomes a test of endurance, trust, and self‑worth, as Hunter hopes to prove that Lincoln deserves not only love but a future built together.

I really struggled with this story. There were a lot of sex scenes but although BDSM was new for Hunter we didn't really experience the details of him trying and exploring it. There was also an absence of scenes too. I did enjoy the exploration of the different kinds of relationships although at times it was more of a distraction. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like D/s and Daddy/boy dynamics.

[Helen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I understood who Lincoln was from the first book, but this story changed my mind. IRL I dislike indecisive people, so I found it difficult to connect with Lincoln in this book or to empathize with his seesawing emotions. For me, his self-doubt got old really fast. Also, if Lincoln was supposed to be into the kink scene for quite a while, and knows so much about it, why was he so confused by figuring out that he’s a switch? On the other hand, I appreciated Hunter’s steady, grounded approach to everything in his life. Given Lincoln’s vacillations, though, if I were Hunter I would have a hard time trusting that Lincoln’s love would endure since he struggled so much with his self-identity. The climactic party scene was terrific, and the resolution wrapped up this story nicely. I especially appreciated the very end which sets up the next book beautifully.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately I enjoyed this book, but it could have been so much better.

I was kinda interested in Lincoln's coming to terms with his new/changed BDSM identity. But because we never saw him in a scene/interaction in a more dominant role, all his agonising over it fell kinda flat - all the reader saw were his perfect interactions as a sub or switch.

All the scenes were too perfect-for-them 🌹🌹🌹 given Hunter was new to BDSM. It would have been interesting to see that angle explored more.

All the characters did together was have sex. When they were apart they sent each other sex videos. That was pretty much their entire relationship. Did they have anything else in common or spend any time together not having sex? (Hint: the answer is NO.) As a result, the relationship wasn't particularly interesting or believable.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter absolutely stole the show for me.

Watching him meet Lincoln where he was, instead of trying to “fix” him, made their connection feel real and deeply satisfying. There’s something so compelling about a character who leads with quiet understanding, and Hunter delivered that in spades.

Lincoln’s struggles felt raw and believable, and I appreciated that the story didn’t take shortcuts with his journey. Their dynamic was tender and ultimately really rewarding. By the end, I was fully invested in them as a couple and genuinely rooting for their future.

I enjoyed the seeing the softer side of kink in this one. It was a great way to switch it up from the other...see what I did there...

If you’re a fan of patient love and characters who communicate through actions just as much as words, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this world and the journey of the five brothers as they find their love. In this story, Hunter connects with Lincoln, a cam boy and best friend of one of Hunter's brothers. Hunter, a lawyer finds Lincoln perfect for him, although Lincoln suffers from bouts of insecurity and adjustments to losing his best friend as a roommate.

This book is a little different, as Lincoln, who always considered himself a dominant comes to realize he may be a switch instead. Hunter brings out a startling submissive side that causes Lincoln to feel somewhat of an identity crisis. Along the way, Hunter also finds that he can tap into his own submissiveness when Lincoln needs to dominate. This is a story of two men, falling in love, who set their relationship on their terms. Enjoyable reading!

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Hunter. He was patient, caring, and kind. He never once doubted his feelings for Lincoln or what he did for a living. He never demanded or even suggested that Lincoln change jobs or give up his friendship with Silas.

Lincoln was fierce in some aspects of his life, but had trouble believing Hunter could truly love him or that he deserved that love. It took time and patience on Hunter’s part. We needed Lincoln’s back story to better understand him and how he became a cam boy. He was in some ways hollow and needed to be loved and to feel safe.

One thing I did hate was the incident at Hunter’s party. It was very predictable and cliche. I wished Hawthorne had skipped it and resolved Lincoln’s insecurities in another way.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first for me. Two vers men coming to terms with how their relationship would work. I loved both Lincoln and Hunter in the previous book and I was very excited to read their story. I loved the give and take in this relationship and that both men were willing to try different things in order to figure out what worked for them. Lincoln was so lost and needed someone that saw him and wanted to take care of him but also give him the space he needed to dominate his partner. Hunter was so open minded and just wanted to find a way to make Lincoln happy and feel safe. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

[Musingsonbooksandmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burden of Proof is the second book in The Club Rapture: Risk Aware series. This focuses on Hunter Covington, who is Marshall from book one's brother, and Lincoln, who is Silas's (Marshall's boyfriend) best friend. From the moment Hunter and Lincoln meet their chemistry is incredibly strong and even though the meeting is unusual, I like that it is not too long before the truth is revealed. The exploration of dominance and submission is key to their story and how they communicate with each other is really well written. I really liked Hunter as a character and his commitment to Lincoln was really powerful. I actually preferred this book to the first. 4.8/5

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very interesting exploration of kink dynamics and what they can mean. It’s low-key fascinating to me too how powerful words can be and how they are used and in what context. The plot is definitely relationship and sex focused and all the different forms that relationships can take. Blood family, found family, platonic friendships that are also physically affectionate. There isn’t a high amount of tension but something about reading kink holds my attention. Probably not the most realistic sex scenes, lol, but I wasn’t overly bothered either.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Hawthorne continues to be in the top list of authors I recommend for truly excellent kink romance; this book is another wonderful example why. Her characters are well developed, which extends to their identity as it relates to power exchange. The simple titles of "Dominant" and "submissive" may exist, but they are equally complex when attached to the "real" people who populate Hawthorne's stories. Lincoln and Hunter's origin story as a couple is equally intriguing, and I had a blast reading along with bated breath as they figured out what they were to each other...and how to share their relationship with those closest to them. Nothing about this book is simple, except for the pure enjoyment I had while reading it. I recommend reading at least the previous book in this particular series to fully appreciate the depth of the family Hawthorne is slowly building here, but I also loved the appearances of previous characters who are both fun to revisit and meaningful in their connections to the current heroes.

[M. Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's one of my absolute go-to authors still; almost never hits a wrong note for me. I did love Hunter's devotion here. The problem I had was that Lincoln was such a mess for no reason. Losing a best friend's attention (he didn't die) or discovering a new kink either one shouldn't cause this kind of trauma. So I did get a bit impatient with it.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow romance story with emotions about being a switch when the main character is a dom.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ soooo much potential, but i didn’t have enough from the characters/relationship to really root for them. still enjoyable.